Solenoid kicker



May 26, 1964 J. R. BRANDELL SOLENOID KICKER Original Filed May 23, 1955 INVENTORI- JOHN R. BRANDELL BY:

ATT'YS United States Patent 3,134,934 SOLENOID KICKER John R. Brandell, Evanston, Ill. (300 N. State St., Chicago 10, Ill.)

Original application May 23, 1955, Ser. No. 510,397, now Patent No. 3,030,113, dated Apr. 17, 1962, and original application July 24, 1958, Ser. No. 750,814. Divided and this application Aug. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 48,503

6 Claims. (Cl. 317-191) The present invention relates in general to game equipment, and has more particular reference to improved ball kicking or impelling apparatus especially well adapted for use in golf putting practice devices for automatically ejecting, to a remote station outwardly of the device, a golf ball putted into the same from the direction of said remote station, the present application containing subject matter divided from my copending applications Serial Nos. 510,397 (now US. Letters Patent No. 3,030,113 of April 17, 1962) and 750,814, filed respectively May 23, 1955 and July 24, 1958 as continuations in part of my application Serial No. 167,061, filed June 9, 1950, upon which US. Letters Patent No. 2,709,594 issued May 31, 1955.

An important object of the invention is to provide a striking device or kicker comprising a solenoid adapted to be electrically energized to move an armature comprising a rod or plunger-disposed axially of the solenoid and having a strikinghead; a further object being to normally bias the plunger in retracted position with respect to the solenoid, as by means of a relatively flexible spring, whereby the same may be advanced axially of the solenoid to striking position against the influence of the spring; a still further object being to provide adjustable stop means for regulating the retracted position of the plunger with respect to the solenoid in order thus to determine the intensity of striking impact of the plunger accomplished by energizing the solenoid.

Another important object is to provide a kicker or striking device embodying a solenoid and an associated rod or plunger forming an armature; wherein the plunger has a driving portion of length substantially less than the axial length of the solenoid, and a striking head spaced forwardly of the driving portion and interconnected therewith by means of a connecting stem, whereby the forward end of the driving portion will be disposed within and substantially behind the forward end of the solenoid when the striking head engages an object to be struck, kicked or impelled.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, advantages, and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-4 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in FIG. 2.

To illustrate the invention the drawings show an automatic ball return game device comprising a frame 11 which, as shown, may be of generally triangular shape forming a nose 13 at one end, and an open top target chamber 14 having a lateral entrance portal 15 opening at the nose remote end of the frame. The width of the entrance portal 15 at its narrowest portion may equal the diameter of a conventional golf hole.

The frame 11 may be formed with a ball receiving pocket 18 which opens upon the target chamber 14 opposite the entrance portal 15, said pocket being preferably sized to snugly yet freely receive a standard golf ball therein, in order to position the same in alinement with kicker means 19 mounted in the frame behind the ball receiving pocket and operable in response to the presence of a ball in the pocket to impel the ball forcibly from the pocket and outwardly of the device through the portal 15.

The frame 11 may also provide a bottom wall or floor 20 for the target chamber, said floor extending at the portal 15 where it forms a thin, forwardly facing edge 21, over which a golf ball may enter the target chamber, The bottom wall 20 may provide an inclined plane portion 24 extending downwardly toward the pocket 18 from a ridge 23 extending parallel to the edge 21 and inwardly thereof, whereby a ball which passes over the ridge 23 in entering the chamber will thereafter gravitate into the pocket 18, for ejection thence outwardly of the device, by operation of the kicker means 19.

The pocket 18 is preferably deep enough to receive a substantial portion of a golf ball 25, as clearly shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, whereby to properly aline the ball with the kicker means 19. To this end, the pocket may be and preferably is provided with a top or roof wall 26 in position overlying a ball in the pocket.

The frame may provide an upstanding semi-cylindrical wall 28 defining the pocket 18, said wall 28 being formed centrally with an opening 29 therethrough communicating the pocket with a housing cavity 30 formed in the frame 11 behind the target chamber. The housing cavity 30 provides for the reception and enclosure of the kicker means 19 as well as microswitch means 31 for controlling the operation of the kicker means. The frame portions defining the cavity 30 may also provide for the support of adjustable means 32 for varying the force of the impact applied by the kicker means upon a ball 25 in the pocket 18. To these ends, the frame 11 behind the wall 28 may form a seat for supporting the microswitch 31 adjacent said wall, said microswitch having a switch actuating arm 33 formed with a finger 34 having an end extending into the pocket 18 through an opening 35 in the wall 28 adjacent the opening 29.

The frame may also be provided with a pair of spaced strengthening flanges or ribs 36 extending between the wall 28 and the nose portion 13 of the frame, said ribs having a pair of transverse extensions 37 forming abutment shoulders facing toward the medial portions of the wall 28 which may be flattened, as at 38, to form a seat at the opening 29. The kicker means 19 may comprise a solenoid embodying a central sleeve 39, preferably of non-magnetic material such as copper, brass or other cuprous metal, and a winding 40 of generally cylindrical configuration on and concentrically encircling the sleeve between a pair of end plates 41, 41', preferably comprising insulating material and secured in position at the opposite ends of the winding by the peened over ends of the sleeve which project outwardly of said end plates at the opposite ends of the solenoid.

The solenoid may be mounted in the frame by applying the plate 41', at one end of the solenoid, in interfitting engagement with the abutments 37, and by then pressing the projecting peened over end of the sleeve 39, at the opposite end of the solenoid, interfittingly into the opening 29 of the wall 28, while simultaneously bringing the adjacent end plate 41 into engagement with the seat 38. The resilience of the solenoid structure, including that of the end plates 41 and 41, may thus be employed to secure the solenoid firmly in mounted position between the seat 38 and the abutments 37 The solenoid, accordingly, may be assembled in mounted position merely by snapping the end of the sleeve 39 into the opening 29, after applying the end plate 41 into position against the abutments 37.

The kicker device may also embody an armature comprising a rod or stem 42 of magnetic material sized for longitudinal sliding movement within the sleeve 39, said stem having an end extending outwardly of the pocket remote end of the solenoid and formed with an enlarged head 43. This head preferably comprises a formed sheet metal cup which may be riveted to the pocket remote end of the armature stem. The stem may be normally urged toward retracted position with respect to the solenoid, as by means of a helical spring 44 concentrically encircling the stem 42, between the head 43 and said pocket remote end of the solenoid. When the solenoid is electrically energized, the stem 42 will be drawn abruptly to ball striking position in the solenoid against the influence of the spring 44, such movement being limited by engagement of the head 43, as at the rim of the head forming cup, with the end plate 41 of the solenoid. The armature stem provides a ball striking head 45 at the end thereof remote from the head 43 for striking a ball in the pocket when the armature is drawn to ball striking position within the solenoid. The cup which forms the head 43 may be made deep enough to receive all of the coils of the spring 44 therein without binding or crushing the same when the armature is in ball striking position within the solenoid, with the rim of the cup in armature movement limiting engagement with the end plate 41'.

While the armature stem 42 may be made sufficient- 1y long to constitute as a ball striking head the end thereof remote from the head 43, the ball striking head 45 preferably comprises a button connected with the adjacent end of the armature stem 42, as by means of a mounting member 46, whereby the end of the stem 42, adjacent the kicker head 45, may be disposed substantially inwardly of the pocket adjacent end of the solenoid when the armature is in ball kicking position. In other words, the stem 42 has a length such that the portion thereof which extends within the solenoid, when the stem reaches ball striking position, is shorter than the solenoid. Indeed, as shown, the stem 42, including the end portions thereof which extend within the cupshaped stop 43, is slightly shorter than the solenoid. Such arrangement appreciably improves the ball striking action of the kicker device. In this connection, the stem 42 comprises magnetic material, such as steel. The ball striking head 45 and the connecting member 46 may also comprise steel or other magnetic material, if desired. Indeed, the striking head 45 and the connecting member 46 may be integrally interconnected together and with the stem 42. The head 45 and connecting member 46, however, may be formed of nonmagnetic material, if desired, and may be secured to the stem 42 in any suitable, preferred or convenient fashion. The head 43 also may be formed as an integral part of the armature, although it is preferably formed as a separate element of any suitable or preferred material and secured to the stem 42 as shown in the drawings.

The present invention contemplates the provision of simple yet extremely effective means of adjusting the ball striking impact of the kicker means 19. As shown, said means may comprise adjustable stop means 47 mounted on the frame 11 Within the solenoid housing cavity 30 for determining the extent of retraction of the stem 42 with respect to the solenoid under the influence of the spring 44. The stop means 47 may conveniently comprise a strip of preferably non-magnetic metal, such as brass or other cuprous material, having an arm 48 adapted to slidingly underlie a wall portion 49 of the frame 11 which forms the closed top of the chamber 30, said arm being slidingly guided between the spaced flanges or ribs 36 which depend beneath the wall 49 and extend between it and the solenoid in a direction parallel with respect to the axis of the stem 42.

The metal strip comprising the stop means 48 may have a dependent arm 50 in position to engage the head 43 and hence limit the spring induced retracting movement of the stem 42 outwardly of the solenoid. The arm 48 may underlie an elongated slot 51 formed in the wall 49 between the dependent flanges 36. A clamping stem 52, extending in the slot 51 and having threaded engagement in the strip arm 48, may be provided for securing the adjustable stop means 47 in any position of adjustment within the range afforded by the slot 51, said stem 52 being provided with a manually operable clamping knob 53 upwardly of the wall 49 and formed for clamping engagement therewith. If desired, the nose portion 13 of the frame may be formed with an embossment 54 for limiting the movement of the adjustable stop means in a direction away from the solenoid.

The microswitch 31 may be electrically connected in series with the actuating winding 40 of the kicker means and with any suitable source of electrical energy, such as the outlet socket of a domestic power supply system, as through preferably insulated electrical cable 55 of conventional character, which may extend into the solenoid and switch housing chamber 30, as through a notched opening formed in a wall portion 12 of the frame adjacent the nose 13, the device remote end of the cable 55 being preferably provided with a conventional electrical connection plug.

A cover plate 59 may be provided for enclosing the lower open side of the solenoid and switch housing chamber 30. The cover plate may comprise any suitable relatively thin sheet material, such as steel, fiberboard, plastic, and the like.

In this connection, the frame 11 may be formed with a peripheral groove 60 shaped to snugly receive the peripheral edge of the cover plate 59, which may be held in place on the frame 11 by means of holding screws 63 extending through embossments 62 formed in the cover plate and taking into threaded embossments formed on the frame, the cover plate, when attached on the frame, serving to hold the kicker device 19 in mounted position between the seat 38 and the abutments 37.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from. the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An electromagnetic kicker comprising a central sleeve, a solenoid on said sleeve extending between the opposite ends thereof, an armature axially slidable in said sleeve and comprising a rod having flange means formed on one end thereof in position to overlie the end of said solenoid around said sleeve, whereby to limit rod movement into the sleeve by engagement of the flange with the end of the solenoid, the length of the rod being such that the portion thereof received in the sleeve, upon flange engagement with the end of the solenoid, is substantially shorter than the solenoid, a strikinghead, and connection means to mount the same on and in position spaced outwardy of the flange remote end of said rod, so that when said flange is engaged with the end of the solenoid, said head will be disposed outwardly of the opposite end of the solenoid.

2. An electromagnetic kicker as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises a connecting stem of substantially smaller sectional size than the rod.

3. An electromagnetic kicker comprising a central, sleeve, a solenoid on said sleeve extending between the back and front ends thereof, an armature axially slidable in said sleeve and comprising a rod of magnetic material providing a body and a spaced head, sized for sliding interfitment in said sleeve, and an integral neck of lesser sectional size than the head and body and interconnecting said head with an end of said body, and an outwardly extending stop at the opposite end of the body in position to overlie and engage the back end of the solenoid, whereby to arrest armature movement into the solenoid in a limit position in which said head projects outwardly of the front end of the solenoid, while the neck connected end of the body extends substantially inward of the said front end of the solenoid.

4. An electromagnetic kicker as set forth in claim 3, including biasing means normally urging the armature toward retracted position wherein said stop is spaced away from the back end of the solenoid, While said head is disposed within the sleeve between the opposite ends of the solenoid, and portions of said body extend outwardly of the back end of the solenoid.

5. An electromagnetic kicker as set forth in claim 3, wherein said head comprises a disk of minimal width in the axial direction of the armature, as compared with the length of said body, and including biasing means normally urging the armature toward retracted position wherein said stop is spaced away from the back end of the solenoid, while said head is disposed within the sleeve between the opposite ends of the solenoid, and portions of said body extend outwardly of the back end of the solenoid.

6. An electromagnetic kicker comprising a central sleeve, a solenoid on said sleeve extending between the back and front ends thereof, an armature axially slidable in said sleeve and comprising a rod of magnetic material providing a body and a spaced head, sized for sliding interfitrnent in said sleeve, and an integral neck of lesser sectional size than the head and body and interconnecting said head with an end of said body, and an outwardly extending stop at the opposite end of the body in position to overlie and engage the back end of the solenoid, whereby to arrest armature movement into the solenoid in a limit position in which said head projects outwardly of the front end of the solenoid, while the neck connected end of the body extends substantially inward of the said front end of the solenoid, said head comprising a relatively thin disk, in the axial direction of the armature, as compared with the length of the body, and biasing means normally urging the armature toward retracted position wherein said stop is spaced away from the back end of the solenoid, while said head is disposed within the sleeve between the opposite ends of the solenoid, and portions of said body extend outwardly of the back end of the solenoid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,341,629 Brown June 1, 1920 1,725,504 Bettica Aug. 20, 1929 2,117,880 Goddard May 17, 1938 2,199,009 Perryman Apr. 30, 1940 2,443,759 Anderson June 22, 1948 2,458,123 Wasserlein Jan. 4, 1949 2,561,355 Fish July 24, 1951 2,683,872 Fish July 13, 1954 2,709,594 Brandell May 31, 1955 2,886,720 Buck May 12, 1959 

1. AN ELECTROMAGNETIC KICKER COMPRISING A CENTRAL SLEEVE, A SOLENOID ON SAID SLEEVE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, AN ARMATURE AXIALLY SLIDABLE IN SAID SLEEVE AND COMPRISING A ROD HAVING FLANGE MEANS FORMED ON ONE END THEREOF IN POSITION TO OVERLIE THE END OF SAID SOLENOID AROUND SAID SLEEVE, WHEREBY TO LIMIT ROD MOVEMENT INTO THE SLEEVE BY ENGAGEMENT OF THE FLANGE WITH THE END OF THE SOLENOID, THE LENGTH OF THE ROD BEING SUCH THAT THE PORTION THEREOF RECEIVED IN THE SLEEVE, UPON FLANGE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE END OF THE SOLENOID, IS SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER THAN THE SOLENOID, A STRIKING HEAD, AND CONNECTION MEANS TO MOUNT THE SAME ON AND IN POSITION SPACED OUTWARDLY OF FLANGE REMOTE END OF SAID ROD, SO THAT WHEN SAID FLANGE IS ENGAGED WITH THE END OF THE SOLENOID, SAID HEAD WILL BE DISPOSED OUTWARDLY OF THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SOLENOID. 